Congratulations:
On Tuesday, November 11, 2008, Jim Canaday, vice president of the Douglas County Area Chapter of the NFB of Kansas, took his seat on the Lawrence Public Transit Advisory Commission. He is filling out an uncompleted term before beginning his own three-year term in January 2009. Four members of this chapter worked diligently in a campaign to preserve bus transit; on November 4 the two relevant ballot issues passed with remarkable 70 percent yes votes. Congratulations to Jim and the entire Douglas County Area Chapter.

Attention Blind and Visually Impaired High School Students:
Blindness 4 1 1 was created by the National Federation of the Blind to give you a place to meet other teens with vision loss and to give you a chance to learn about resources that can help you in school, at home, and in your community. The NFB is the largest blindness organization in the United States. We have over 50,000 members who work hard to make a difference in the lives of blind people. We are excited to provide this resource to you and hope that you will tell your friends about us.

If you are currently a Facebook member, go to Groups, search for the group using our group name, and request access to our group. If you are not signed up for Facebook, join in on the fun. Visit <www.facebook.com> to get connected with our NFB teen group. If you have any questions, call Rosy Carranza at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2283, or email her at <rcarranza@nfb.org>.

Elected:
At its 2008 convention the following board was elected to serve the NFB of Illinois as the 2008-2009 board of directors: president, Patti Gregory-Chang; first vice president, Deborah Stein; second vice president, Robert Gardner; secretary, Carmen Dennis; treasurer, Kelly Doty; and board members, Annette Grove, Bill Reif, Denise Avant, and Mary Lou Grunwald.

New Division:
The Georgia Association of Blind Students (GABS), a division of the National Association of Blind Students, was organized at the Georgia affiliate convention in October. Since then it has established a board consisting of president, Isaiah Wilcox; vice president, Brandon Williams; secretary, Mary Fernandez; treasurer, Lakeisha Holmes; and board members, Sam Taylor and Shelby Ball. We are still beginning; however, it is evident that we will be a powerful voice for Georgia's blind students and an asset to the NFB. Prepare to hear excellent news from the Georgia Association of Blind Students.

Exciting Alaska itinerary highlighting spectacular glaciers that are so close you can hear ice breaking into the water; 7,000-foot-high snowcapped mountains that drop immediately to sea level; fresh saltwater and crisp air; wildlife—whales, hundreds of seals, bear, and moose; an opportunity to ride the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, an historic railway operated during the Gold Rush era that offers an unforgettable scenic train trip over the White Pass.

Depart from Seattle on Saturday, September 5, and return Saturday, September 12, 2009. Cruise rates: inside cabin $654, ocean view cabin $824 (with a picture window), and ocean view cabin with a balcony $1,184. Rates are per person, based on double occupancy, do not include taxes and port fees, currently around $395 per person, and are subject to change until paid in full. Discounted third and fourth person rates are available upon request.

A deposit of $275 per person is required to guarantee your space on this cruise. This deposit, minus a $25 per person cancellation penalty, is refundable until June 5, 2009, which is when the final payment is due. Contact Kim Howell with Travelfax, (800) 480-7405, or email <kim@travelfax.biz>.

In Brief

Notices and information in this section may be of interest to Monitor readers. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information; we have edited only for space and clarity.

Attention Past Camp Wapanacki Campers:
Does Camp Wapanacki bring back fond memories? We hope so. Seek the Son Ministries, Inc., is interested in producing a tribute book capturing memories of Camp Wapanacki. We would love your help. Please email, mail, or fill out our Web form describing special memories or including pictures.

My name is Theresa Beers Taylor, and Camp Wapanacki played a huge role in my life for five years. It allowed me to realize blindness would not stop me from reaching my dreams. Wapanacki represented a safe place to try new things like canoeing on Lake Memphremagog. These trips were not only challenging but lots of fun. Friendships were built and many memories shared. I remember one trip a bad thunderstorm hit while we were on the lake, and I was absolutely petrified. I tried my best to hide under the seat. Joe Ingram told us not to swamp because we had the Oreos.

This story is only one of many I keep in my heart. We hope you also have several stories to tell. My husband Ken and I met at Wapanacki, and now after twenty-one years of marriage we started our own 501(c)3 nonprofit known as Seek the Son Ministries. Our goal is to open a year-round retreat center accessible for the disabled.

As part of a campaign to help others understand the need for places like Camp Wapanacki, we decided to produce a tribute book full of stories, history, and pictures of Wapanacki, the first camp in the United States to open for the visually impaired. As we get close to publication, we will make this book available in several formats to help meet the needs of all. Proceeds from this endeavor will go straight to Seek the Son Ministries, Inc.

Ken and I both realize the importance of Wapanacki in our lives and in our formation of this nonprofit. We would love and need your help in sharing stories, history and pictures of Wapanacki. Listed below are three ways to submit information. Please pass this on to any other fellow Wapanackians.

Email us at <Theresa@seektheson.org>. Postal mail may be sent to Reverend Theresa C. Taylor, Seek the Son Ministries, Inc., 3821 Reservoir Boulevard NE, Columbia Heights, Minnesota 55421. Also check out our Website at <www.seektheson.org>. You can fill out a form on the Web if you are interested. We accept Braille, large print, cassette, and print submissions.

Recording Service Available:
Do you have family memories recorded on transcription disk, cassette tape, VHS or reel tape? I can transfer them to a digital CD or DVD. Contact Bryan Newkirk at (850) 512-4917 or <radiobryan@cox.net>, or visit <members.cox.net/radiobryan>.

Attention Art Lovers Heading for New York City:
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is delighted to offer monthly programs for visitors who are partially sighted, blind, or deaf. Join Guggenheim educators for an after-hours tour and interactive discussion, followed by a private reception. Programs for partially sighted and blind visitors are presented through verbal imaging and touch; separate programs for deaf visitors are presented in American Sign Language, with no voice interpreter. Admission and programs are free of charge. Tours are Mondays, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Assistive listening devices for hard-of-hearing visitors are also available in the museum for daily Educator Eye museum tours at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Space is limited. Please RSVP (212) 360-4355 or <access@guggenheim.org>.

Brailler Repair:
The Selective Doctor, Inc., is a repair service for all IBM typewriters and Perkins Braillewriters. Located in Baltimore, the service has done work for the Maryland School for the Blind and a number of other organizations in Maryland. They accept Perkins Braillers sent to them from around the country.

The cost to repair a manual Perkins Brailler is $55 for labor (flat rate), plus parts. Because of technical complexity the cost to repair an electric Perkins Brailler is $60 for labor (flat rate), plus parts. The Brailler will be shipped back to you by U.S. mail, Free Matter for the Blind and insured for $400. The cost of this insurance ($5.50) will be added to your invoice. This listed insurance charge may fluctuate due to rate changes by the postal service.

To mail Braillers using the U.S. Postal Service, send your Brailler(s) to the Selective Doctor, P.O. Box 28432, Baltimore, Maryland 21234-8432. If you care to use UPS or Federal Express, please send Braillers to the Selective Doctor, 3014 Linwood Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21234-5821. The Website is <www.selectivedoctor.com>. With your Brailler(s) please include your name and organization (if applicable), shipping and billing addresses, telephone number, and a brief description of your Brailler's needs. Should you require additional information, please call (410) 668-1143, or email <braillerrepair@yahoo.com>.

Monitor Mart

The notices in this section have been edited for clarity, but we can pass along only the information we were given. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the statements made or the quality of the products for sale.

For Sale:
My name is Marge Mosley, and I would like to sell a 17-inch B/W Magnisight Explorer Custom Focus CCTV that belonged to my husband. I am asking $1,000 for it, and, if it needs to be shipped, I would need another $100 to cover the shipping cost. If anyone wishes to contact me, my phone number is (817) 426-9092. I live in Burleson, Texas.

Looking to Replace Worn-out Talkman with Like Unit or Similar Device:
I would prefer the modified Panasonic unit from the early 1990s. Must include AM/FM radio and ability to play NLS cassette books and stereo music cassettes. Other standard features should include variable speed control and capability to play cassette books with or without headphones. Prefer a working unit, but will consider one that needs maintenance. Please contact Justin McDevitt at (651) 646-9659, (after 5:00 p.m., CST, or email <justliz@earthlink.net>.

NFB Pledge

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.